So much has been going on around here! I have three quilts to finish up, the one pictured is obviously for Christmas and will hang on a wall somewhere.
We had a light dusting of snow last night, more to come this weekend! Hopefully it will keep on coming for the arrival of the gang from Florida. Ally can't wait to play in the snow with Ian and Madeline:)
Zach shot his first deer this year, it's small but Steve told him every year it has to be bigger than the previous year, plus he hasn't quite caught deer fever yet. Getting up at 5am and sitting out in the cold is not fun for Zach. I think he just shot the first deer he saw.

Our Christmas decorating began on Monday and I just had to post a picture of my favorite ornament, it always gets me in the Christmas spirit! We have the annual Advent potluck at Church this weekend, we eat and then play bingo for small gifts, even Santa makes a brief appearance. The kids love it!

Steve worked on Thanksgiving, so we had a quiet feast at home this year. The kids helped me cook and we played games all weekend. It was awesome! We went to Mom and Dad's on Friday for the Husker game and had so much fun. All the kids played and got along great, Huskers won a nail biting game and seeing Heidi and Zach, J.R., Christa, Lexi, Mason and Callie is always so wonderful! Having a big, huge family can be crazy and loud, but so worth it when everyone comes home:) We are so blessed!!!!!

We Love Fall!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time has just been flying by, and I apologize for my untimely blogging:) I thought things would slow down once all the kids hit school age, but it only gets more hectic!

Halloween was awesome, Hayley had some friends over and Ally's friend Hannah came too! The big kids get to go without parents, they are too cool for us now. I ran into Kari and Aud a few times that night, but man our group is getting so large that it is impossible to stay together all night. It was the warmest Halloween I can ever remember, just fun!

Once again, Steve is hunting! The nice buck here was shot ( with bow and arrow) Wed. morning. Steve called me around 7;30am and I went to meet him and help him load it in his truck. I've never been able to help him in the hunting dept. because I,ve always had kids home etc.. but this year he is getting full use out of me! I have helped him set up deer stands, build deer stands and even gone with him to help out some friends load up their deer. It's a bizarre thing, guys that hunt are so into it, you can see the hunting instinct kick in and I felt like I was transported into another era.

Ally just loves kindergarten and is learning so much! I really don't believe in preschool so my kids are a little behind the others at first, but man has she caught up! I get to help in her class on Tuesdays and all the kids are wonderful! I applied for a substitute position at Norris and I was accepted:) I am on-call, which works great for me! I love free days, but I really want a full-time position at the school. It is just the ideal job. I love working with kids of all ages and Norris is close by and my days off will be the same as the kids!

Nature's Children

Zach and Steve went squirrel hunting yesterday afternoon. They both shot one! Zach's is the fluffier one with the guts hanging out:) Ally is showing off her 2 praying mantis'. We found them last week and have had more fun watching them! We fed them crickets, grasshoppers, spiders etc... they gobble them down rather quickly. Google praying mantis and you will be intrigued! They are carnivores and eat small animals, they even show this on you tube! I told Ally we had to let them go this morning so she is rather sad, but as we were cleaning out the bug cage we found a stick with a hard, amber looking egg sac, we hope it is from the praying mantis. I told her we could keep it safe for the winter and maybe see it hatch in the spring! That's pretty much all for today. Tonight the Huskers play Missouri, of course we will be watching and cheering them on. GO BIG RED!!!!!!!!

The Great Pumpkin

Yes! There is a pumpkin patch taking over my driveway:) I thought it would be fun to let a volunteer plant grow, and it has been fun but it's getting bigger by the day. We have six pumpkins so far and some little ones just starting. As most of you know Hayley flew out of the neighbors wagon and broke her arm(the Fortners and Zach were in no way involved:) She adores the attention, but the cast is sweaty and getting dirty so she can't wait to get it off next week! Hopefully it has all healed and she won't have to have anything else done. I had Lasik eye surgery a couple weeks ago and my eyesight is now better than 20/20!!!! It is awesome! I feel like Adam Kindall (Mary's husband on little house) When his vision came back after being blind! No more contacts or glasses. Yea!!! Well, I better go for a walk and I told the kids I'd make cookies today. Later

WHERE HAS THE SUMMER GONE???
Gee I haven't blogged since May!

It's been a crazy, fast summer and now that ALL

my kids are in school full-time I might blog a little more:)

June: Steve and I went to Minnesota with two of our dear friends.

July: We spent the whole month with family! Mom and Dad pool was busy! Emily and fam was here for the month. JR and Christa came up. It was just awesome!

August: Steve and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary:) We just got home Sunday from vacation. We went to Steve's company cabin on Lake McConaughy with our friends the Witkowski's and their kiddos. It was very relaxing.

School started yesterday and the kids came home with all sorts of fun stories. Ally started all day kindergarten and Hayley started Middle School.

I have lots of work to do: make salsa, freeze peaches from my peach tree, pick out new paint colors for my upstairs. Doing these things with no kids around will surely be way easier! Moms sewing room is calling my name though- I'm soooo torn:)

NO PICTURES!!!


I shared this recipe with Mom and Audrey already, but I figured it would be easier to just blog it. Mom just called and she tried it and I've tried it too! YUM-O

Cheesy Apple Pie- Body for life

1/2c. cottage cheese
1/4c. sugar-free applesauce
1/4c. oatmeal, grapenuts or any other whole grain cereal
cinnamon
splenda
1t. skim milk

Stir everything together and put in microwave for 30 seconds.

Tips: I toasted my oats first and put half in before nukeage, them sprinkled the rest on top after, for a little crunch:)
I used half applesause and half cooked rhubarb, sooo good! Could probably use a variety of fruits? Cherries would be good! I' ll experiment.

Ally & OJ

I just had to blog this picture! Ally and OJ are two of a kind. They either get along great or constantly fight and tease each other.

Yesterday we were at Mom's and they got along pretty well? Partners in crime was more like it!

Kari, Mom and I were chatting with Dad who came home for a minute, he left and we THOUGHT the girls were watching a movie in the back bedroom:) Suddenly OJ comes out and asked where Grandma was. I told her that Grandma was sick of us and left! She looked at me funny and went back. Then Ally comes into the kitchen soaking wet! She said her and OJ took a bath! WHAT!!!!! I went to investigate. Mom comes out of her room and said she found the girls all wet. Ally put a little water in the whirlpool tub, which they sat in. Then they got out some of Mom's highheels and various shoes. We think they must have put on the shoes after their bath because the shoes were all wet inside:( We couldn't believe we didn't hear any of this! They work fast because Dad was just back there talking to them.

I think they are ready for the POOL!!!!

Today Sam doesn't have school so we are walking to the park to have a picnic! It's supposed to reach 70 today. I love spring.

One more hunter!!!

My little boy killed his first turkey on Saturday. He was so excited, and Steve was a proud papa!

Everyone in the neighborhood stopped by to see it. Turkeys are so UGLY, but I hear very fun to hunt?

In other news, the kids' spring sports have started:) Hayley has softball on Monday& Thurs. Zach has baseball on Tues.& Friday! Wednesdays are CCD and Spring Football is on Tuesdays too! Hayley also has a Volleyball camp coming up. The key is to keep them so busy and tired they practically fall asleep in the car. No, really they love their sports and I hope they continue with it. It will hopefully keep them out of trouble during the tough years ahead.

Ally has been busy outside. We found two baby snakes the other day and my nature girl just had to keep them. She named them T-pane and Fergie! For those who don't know, she named them after singers:) She is one heavily influenced 5 year old. Ally has Kindergarten preview next Wed. She can't wait! She thinks Sam will be there too, but I explained to her that Sam will go on to First grade. She was sad!

Last night we had CCD, my second grade class had their First Confessions! We have been studying and preparing all year and they will soon have First Communion. Max is in my class this year and was so excited! I am always so amazed how quickly the kids mature after they receive their Sacraments. I think they feel more a part of things.

I have started gardening already. I am planting a ton of veggies this year. And hopefully our fruit trees produce this year, last year we had a late frost and killed all the buds! No peaches or apples:( We should have cherries soon too! Well time to clean. Later!

O Pioneer ???
Hayley went to Heritage School today! I made her an authentic pioneer lunch, the dress was borrowed from school and she has been memorizing poems and spelling words just for the special occasion.
When Hayley got home I asked how her day went and she said it was soooo BORING!!! The best part was the spelling bee because that's the only time they were allowed to talk. She said even during lunch they had to be quiet? What a strict place! I can't really believe that is how it was back in the day, it wasn't like that on Little House! Miss Beadle rocks!!!
Ally and I went to mom's today. Monica and Kari were there too, workout club was in full force today! Mom's new recumbant bike is awesome! I am determined to get into a bikini this summer, stretch marks and all:)
The electric co. was at moms all day moving the lines! The tree removers were there too, but left, so tomarrow all the trees get taken up! Mom has been taking pics and will blog them SOON(hint-hint)

New Stuff...
Meet our new furniture and our new bird TweetersIII. Emily has been asking when I'm going to blog the new furniture(boring) but she lives far far away, so I added Ally's pet Pugsley to the couch:) We got a new set(Couch, loveseat and recliner) for the upstairs and downstairs. The upstairs stuff comes next week!
Our new birdy is getting quite comfortable in its new home. The kids love him. Talking about birds:) Me and Mom are starting a new bird-watching club, if anyones interested! Mom recently purchased a new birdbath and has her feeders all set up. For more info contact mother:)

Steve and I set up a new B-ball hoop this weekend, what a project! We were up till midnight putting it all together. He wanted to set the whole thing up in the house until we realized it wouldn't fit through the door. So we did what we could and did the rest the next day. This will definately be the place to be until summer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

BIRDS...

On March 26th our beautiful blue parakeet "tweeters" died! His burial is tonight after the kids get home from school.

Steve bought him for me when we first started dating. We figured tweets to be at least 16 yrs. old.

This weekend I told the kids we would go pick out a new bird:) They said they want a puppy, but finally settled on a new parakeet. The kids will all be in school next year and I will work (maybe!) part-time so a dog is totally out of the question.

In other BIRD news... I am an insane woman!!! I have become addicted to bird-watching! These are my two bird feeders in the backyard, I want to buy more, but where I hang them is kind of limited because the squirrels have already broken two other feeders. They hang on them, chew on them and arrrgh!!! shatter them. So far

Steve's garage has been safe for the feeders, there are no close trees for the nasty little squirrels to leap to the roof and attack:)

This is kind of personal, but seriously, I get up each morning, grab the binoculars and watch the birds interact with one another. Steve thinks I'm weird because the feeders are only 20ft from the porch, but my eyes are crap and I like to see them up close. I get out my bird book and mark all the different birds that come to visit. It's very fascinating and the kids love it too! Even Ally is learning her birds. Our main visitors right now are goldfinch, purple finch, white-breasted nuthatch and juncos. I bought different bird books and the kids like "scholastics Audubon First Field Guide

BIRDS" They have them at Barnes along with Animals, Fish, Reptiles, Rocks, weather etc... These books have such great pictures and just a nice set to have! Well gotta go Ally wants to watch a movie now and I need to clean! FUN, FUN!!!

Steve is 37!!!!
This blog is lovingly dedicated to my wonderful husband of 14 years.

Steve and I have a LONG history. We went to grade school and high school together. We never even batted an eye at each other over all those years. We did have mutual friends, but Steve was such a rascal in grade school. He was the boy who spent most of his time in the hallway or in the principals office. He had a hard time in school and was often disruptive, your typical "class clown" He was diagnosed with dyslexia in first grade and transfered to my school in second grade. My school had a better special ed. program. He was just saying the other day that he was suprised he even graduated high school because his grades were so bad. After high school he joined the Navy and was shipped off to Saudi. The Gulf War changed him for the better. I wrote him a letter once while he was away. He still has that letter. I really don't know why I wrote him? Some friends of mine gave me the adresses of all the guys stationed overseas and Steve is the only one that I chose to write to, weird huh? After he returned we were at a friends wedding and he kept asking me to dance. He asked me why I never asked him out in high school? So I asked him out that very night, we went to Wayne's World:)

I am so proud of how much he has accomplished. He was recently promoted to shift supervisor at the power plant, most of the people he works with have college degrees! Steve is a great husband, friend and father.

Hello all! No pictures today:( I just never have my camera at the ready when the good stuff happens. Anywho, not too much happening lately.
My oldest children are driving me CRAZY!!! Everyday I hear from one or the other that I am ruining their life. For instance, this morning Hayley(now10, going on 16) comes out into the living room with this weird outfit consisting of a white cami-undershirt with one of those short sweaters that tie underneath your breast area. It looked strange and so I told her to go change WHOA!!! the yelling and whining started full force! I hate when my kids get all upset right before school. She finally changed and made it to the bus in time, but is probably having a horrible day. Too bad I didn't get a picture:)
Zach, almost 12, is having girl issues. One day a girl likes him and wants to "go out" with him and the next day he's a jerk! He told me he didn't do anything to these girls to make them mad and he just doesn't understand them. Welcome to adolescence Zach, poor little guy! Somehow his popularity or unpopularity rests solely on my shoulders:) If he doesn't have the right clothes, its my problem. If I don't let him talk on the phonefor 4 hrs, get a cell phone, take him to boy/girl parties etc,etc... You'd be surprised how many kids in his 6th grade class have cell phones and the parents let them do what ever they want. It is so scary!!! Maybe I'm a little overprotective, but kids are growing up way to fast. I'm sure the best years are yet to come!!!

Fresh Paint, new carpet!
Finally, the basement is done! The carpet came last week and it looks so great. Now we have this huge family room with nothing to put in it:) Nebraska Furniture Mart here we come! The kids like it just the way it is though. They do cartwheels and just run around down there. Ally has her own room now. She just loves it, you can't really tell by the pic, but her walls are a real light yellow. Hayley's room gets fresh paint this weekend and an updated pre-teen decor:) I'm getting sick of painting, but I feels good to get everything cleaned up before spring hits.

Ta-Da!!! Ally is 5...

It's hard to believe that five years ago today little Ally was born! She woke up this morning and asked if she starts kindergarten today:) She also dressed herself (notice the hairties around her ankles) We are having a little party for her tonight(just us, since it's a school night) Ally requested lasagna, salad and garlic bread for dinner AND angel food cake with bubble gum ice cream:)